The old forms of crop rotation with
fallow periods were often displaced by legume-rotation field-grass
agriculture. Independent farming gave rise to the improvement of
breeds of livestock by selective breeding.
Enclosed land produced 26 bushels of grain compared to 18 bushels
for common field land. It produced 9 pounds of sheep fleece
compared to 3 1/2 pounds for common field land. Overall, soils
were improved by being treated with clay, chalk, or lime.
Artificial pasture was extended and there was increased use of
clover, sainfoin, and rye-grass. Grain productivity was four times
that of 1200. A fatted ox was 800 pounds compared to the former
400 pounds which it weighed from the 1300s to the 1600s. The
fleece of sheep increased fourfold.
By statute of 1756, persons having rights of common in certain
land may, by the major part in number and in value of each's
tenement, enclose such land for planting and growth of timber or
underwood.
Every village had a smith, carpenter, and miller. The larger
villages also had a potter, a turner, a malster, a weaver, a
tanner, and perhaps a mercer or grocer middleman. Wheelwrights
made ploughs, harrows, carts, and wagons. Ploughs had one, two, or
no wheels. Poor farming families took up extra work in the
villages such as making gloves, knitting stockings, or spinning
yarn. Craftsmen still helped farmers at harvest time.
Much of the rural population was now dispersed over the
countryside instead of being concentrated in villages because so
many small holders had sold out due to enclosures of farm land,
especially of common land and waste land.
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